Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the MAR Maritime Training Package.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to survive at sea using personal survival techniques (PST) in the event of vessel abandonment.

It applies to deck and engine workers working in the maritime industry requiring a Certificate of Safety Training.

This unit applies to people working in the maritime industry in the capacity of:

• Chief Integrated Rating
• Electro-Technical Officer (STCW Electro-Technical Officer Unlimited)
• Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal
• Engineer Watchkeeper (STCW Engineer Watchkeeper Unlimited)
• Integrated Rating
• Master of a commercial vessel less than 80 metres in length within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)
• Master of a commercial vessel less than 500 gross tonnage (GT)
• Master of a commercial vessel Unlimited
• Watchkeeper Deck.

Licensing/Regulatory Information 

This unit is equivalent to and delivers the objectives of the following STCW provisions:

• STCW Reg VI/1 and Code Section A-VI/1 (2), Table A-VI/1-1.

Legislative and regulatory requirements are applicable to this unit.

• Regulatory requirements include STCW International Maritime Organization (IMO) model course competencies and areas of knowledge, understanding and proficiency, together with the estimated total hours required for lectures and practical exercises. Teaching staff should note that timings are suggestions only and should be adapted to suit individual groups of trainees depending on their experience, ability, equipment and staff available for training.

Near Coastal Qualifications:

• This unit is one of the requirements to obtain Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) certification as an Engineer Class 3 Near Coastal or Master less than 80 metres Near Coastal as defined in the Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency - National Law) 2013.

Blue Waters Qualifications:

• This unit is one of the requirements to obtain AMSA certification as a Chief Integrated Rating, Electro-Technical Officer (STCW Electro-Technical Officer Unlimited), Engineer Watchkeeper (STCW Engineer Watchkeeper Unlimited), Integrated Rating, Master of a commercial vessel less than 500 gross tonnage (GT), Master Unlimited or Watchkeeper Deck and to meet regulatory requirements this unit must be delivered consistent with Marine Orders and with the relevant sections of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Not applicable.

F - Operational Quality and Safety

Not applicable.

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Respond to emergency 

1.1 

Emergency situation is correctly recognised

1.2 

Muster and abandon vessel signals are activated according to organisational procedures

1.3 

Prompt, accurate and clear information is given on raising alarm

1.4 

Instructions are provided to crew and passengers to maximise chances of survival

1.5 

Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) and search and rescue transponders (SARTs) are operated to transmit distress signal

1.6 

Distress calls are made using radio equipment on distress call frequency to communicate nature of emergency

2 

Operate survival craft and rescue boats 

2.1 

Orders are given to survivors to board the survival craft or rescue boat using appropriate means

2.2 

Survival craft or rescue boat is cleared of the vessel and operated according to organisational procedures and manufacturer instructions

2.3 

Sea anchors and drogues are used to assist in remaining within the vicinity of the abandoned vessel and to minimise the effects of adverse weather and sea conditions

2.4 

Exposure cover is deployed on an open lifeboat according to manufacturer instructions

3 

Operate lifesaving and survival equipment onboard survival craft and rescue boats 

3.1 

Location and accessibility of all lifesaving and survival equipment is established

3.2 

Survival equipment is checked and operated according to manufacturer instructions

3.3 

Lifesaving equipment is correctly donned and used according to manufacturer instructions

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to MARF009 Survive at sea in the event of vessel abandonment.

Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the MAR Maritime Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• boarding a survival craft from the ship and water while wearing a life jacket
• determining the type and extent of the emergency
• donning a life jacket
• donning and using an immersion suit
• ensuring initial actions after leaving ship, and procedures and actions in the water minimise threats to survival
• freeing a survival craft of obstructions
• identifying hypothermia and providing appropriate treatment
• keeping afloat without a life jacket
• launching survival craft
• operating location devices, including radio equipment
• operating personal lifesaving appliances
• operating radio equipment
• operating survival craft equipment
• recognising and interpreting muster signals, and taking action that is appropriate to emergency and complies with established procedures
• righting an inverted life raft
• righting an inverted life raft while wearing a life jacket
• safely jumping from a height into water
• streaming a drogue or sea anchor
• swimming while wearing a life jacket
• taking initial actions on boarding survival craft to enhance chance of survival
• timing and sequencing individual actions so they are appropriate to prevailing circumstance and conditions, and minimise potential dangers and threats to survival
• using appropriate method to board survival craft that avoids dangers to other survivors.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• action to be taken in an emergency
• characteristics of survival craft
• dangers to survivors at sea and precautions, including:

• dehydration
• drinking seawater
• exposure to the elements
• fire
• oil on water
• sea sickness
• sharks

• emergency muster and abandon vessel signals, including muster list
• equipment found in survival craft, its function and the procedures for correct operation
• first aid techniques
• helicopter assistance and pick-up, including:

• communicating with helicopter
• evacuating from ship and survival craft
• helicopter harness

• location of personal lifesaving appliances
• location of survival equipment on vessel
• principles concerning survival, including:

• actions to be taken when aboard a survival craft
• actions to be taken when called to survival craft stations
• actions to be taken when in the water
• actions to be taken when required to abandon ship
• main dangers to survivors
• need to be ready for any emergency
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• value of training and drills

• procedures for abandoning vessel
• relevant maritime regulations related to required survival equipment on a vessel
• relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and policies
• standard safety symbols
• steps to be taken after collision, grounding or other marine casualty and resulting hull damage
• survival at sea techniques
• techniques for using survival equipment
• techniques for maintain morale of survivors
• time required to make distress calls safely
• types of emergency situations which may occur and precautions, including:

• adverse reaction of dangerous goods and hazardous bulk materials
• collision
• engine room explosion
• fire
• foundering
• hull failure
• shifting of cargo
• stranding

• types of lifesaving appliances normally carried on ships
• types of survival craft and appliances, including:

• float-free launching
• free-fall launching
• immersion suit
• inflatable appliance
• launching appliance
• rescue boat
• survival craft
• thermal protective aid and anti-exposure suits

• use of distress signals and penalty for misuse.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Practical assessment must occur in a workplace, or realistic simulated workplace, under the normal range of workplace conditions.

Simulations and scenarios may be used where situations cannot be provided in the workplace or may occur only rarely, in particular for situations relating to emergency procedures and adverse weather conditions where assessment would be unsafe, impractical or may lead to environmental damage.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• applicable documentation, such as legislation, regulations, codes of practice, workplace procedures and operational manuals
• tools, equipment, machinery, materials and relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry.